Dr. Armand P. La Barge
OOM, CStJ, O. Ont, LL.D. (Hon), Ph.D.

Honourary Board Member and Advisor

Dr. Armand P. La Barge is a highly decorated and respected police leader, criminal justice expert and public safety consultant. In his capacity as Chief of York Regional Police, he served as the President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ontario Director of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and he was an associate member of the First Nation Chiefs of Police Association. Dr. La Barge is an Officer in the Order of Police Merit, a Commander in the Order of St. John, a recipient of the Order of Ontario, the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals and the Police Exemplary Service Medal and First Bar. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Schulich School of Business’ Masters in Municipal Management program and the University of St. Andrew’s Terrorism Studies program. Dr. La Barge served as a strategic advisor on Justice Michael Tulloch’s independent reviews of civilian oversight in policing and police carding for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. He has also worked with Justice Tulloch on major case management and police modernization projects in Jamaica for the Canadian Department of Justice and the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Dr. La Barge is a champion of diversity and inclusiveness and an ardent defender of social justice and human rights. He was the first graduate of York University’s Certificate in Multiculturalism Studies program. In his capacity as an Officer of the Order of Police Merit, Dr. La Barge officiated at Trent University’s inaugural Canadian Citizenship Ceremony in July 2019. Held in conjunction with the New Canadian Centre of Peterborough, Dr. La Barge officially swore in more than 100 new citizens from 30 different countries, and he proudly welcomed them into the Canadian family. Dr. La Barge is a life-long volunteer and community activist. He has been recognized with countless awards and honors for his intercultural and interfaith work including the Planet Africa Special Tribute Award, the Harry Jerome Award for Diversity, the Tropicana Community Services President’s Award, the Diversity Leaders Alliance Award, the Tamil Canadian Congress Leader for Change Award, the Ghanian Women’s Courage Appreciation Award, and a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa degree from the University of Guelph.

Dr. La Barge is the chair of the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada Advisory Board, a member of the National Board of Advisors for the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, a Universal Peace Federation ambassador, and an advisor with the GTA Intercultural Dialogue Institute. He is a Governor Emeritus and past chair of Trent University, and he served as the president of the Seneca College Alumni Council, chair of the Board of Special Olympics Ontario, chair of the Uxbridge Public Library Board of Directors, and chair of the St. John Council of Ontario Board of Directors. He also served as a member of the York University and Sacred Heart College Boards of Governors. Dr. La Barge holds a Ph.D. and Master of Philosophy degree in the field of criminal justice, a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in the field of Canadian and Indigenous Studies and he is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws Honors Degree at the University of London.